The Russians are Coming – Draka MMA – U.S Debut

The Russians are Coming – Draka MMA – U.S Debut

by Ted Lempke

Through a partnership with Richmond’s Sweat Equity MMA Management, Draka MMA invaded the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va., May 31 for the promotion’s first U.S. based fight card. The Russian based promotion and featured a blend of Draka rules and Unified rules of MMA for both amateur and professional bouts.

The promotion has held 14 events overseas with the main difference between Draka and unified rules being a 30 second time limit that starts once the fighters hit the canvas. If a finish is not achieved during this period, both fighters will be asked to stand and the action will resume.

According to Draka officials this makes for an action-packed fight and no chance for holding positions or stalling.

Pete Hatcher with Sweat Equity MMA Management commented on the difference, “I’ve been around MMA since the beginning and I’ll always love the traditional, unified MMA rules. But I think Draka offers something really spectacular for the casual fight fan. I’ve been to many events where the crowd starts getting anxious if the action stops or the ground game goes on too long. Some fans don’t understand or appreciate the grappling arts, so this will give them an exciting fight from bell to bell.”

In the opening bout U.S Marine Matt Inderio owned Brett Barney and the fight was called at just 1:11 in the first round after a KO win for the Jarhead.

The MyMMANews fight of the night was awarded to the headlining fight, Mike Wade vs Andrei Koshkin. The Russian Top Team fighter, Koshkin, fought just weeks ago earlier this month earning a KO headkick win over Islam Dzadziev.

It appeared as if Wade would actually get the better of Koshkin and win the fight however he was caught by a series of blows in the second and the Russian earned his second victory in just as many weeks.

WSOF 34 – New Year’s Eve

WSOF 34: Fitch vs. Shields had been scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado, while WSOF 35 was slated for Dec. 3 at Xfinity Arena in Everett, Washington.

Both those cards are now cancelled and will be combined with their end of year spectacular at Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve.

Fitch vs. Shields will co-headline the event while a bantamweight title fight between champion Marlon Moraes and an unnamed opponent will open the card. Headlining the event will be lightweight champion Justin Gaethje vs. Joao Zeferino.

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